Lately, It's Winter Season.

Chapter 50 - The Haunted Night of the Howling

 

"Okay, see you later."

 

"Let's hug again." I held out my arms.

 

"This is the fifth time already."

“So what? Come here.” Nuea moved closer, and we hugged again. Nuea had been here for about five days before having to return to Boston, and those five days had truly made me happy. We had explored Chiang Mai together and even visited my mother to surprise her. Now that I had to see Nuea off, I couldn't help but act spoiled. This was the fifth time I'd asked Nuea for a hug. “Call me when you get there, okay?”

 

"Okay, I'm going now." Nuea let go of me, pulled her suitcase, and went inside, not forgetting to turn back and wave goodbye to me and Tiger one last time.

 

"Sigh, they're gone."

 

"Give me a hug," Tiger said, extending his arms. I instinctively frowned in confusion.

 

"Hurry up, you can still hold Nuea!"

 

"But Nuea is going to Boston, and we're still together."

 

"Hmm..."

 

“…?”

 

"Hmmm..."

 

"Come on," I patted Tiger on the shoulder to comfort him, "Didn't I say I'd visit often?"

 

"Yes! I'll come every day!"

 

"Then why don't you just move in with me?"

 

"Really?" Tiger turned to look at me.

 

"Why not?" I asked again. He continued to whine and complain.

 

"Come on, give me a hug."

 

"Okay, okay." I smiled and hugged Tiger. We hugged for a long time because he wouldn't let go, even longer than when I hugged Nuea earlier. After a while, he finally let go.

 

"Let's go home."

 

"Yes." Tiger flashed a bright smile.

 

Tomorrow, I have to move in with North to prepare for my internship. As I mentioned, Tiger has to do his internship elsewhere because he's majoring in a different field than me. He's been whining about us not being able to live together, constantly complaining that he'll try to visit me as often as possible.

 

"Do you really have to leave?"

 

"I asked again," I said while sitting in the car.

 

"How about I go with you tomorrow?"

 

"No way," I replied immediately. "Driving there once takes five hours, and you'd be exhausted from all that commuting. Besides, I've already bought an apartment near my internship."

 

"Why won't Johan's company hire me in my major?" Tiger complained. He'd complained about this to North's boyfriend countless times, only to be yelled at again: "Enough people already, you idiot." Tiger would then retort that they should fire some people to hire him, only to be yelled at again.

This happened so often that North's boyfriend didn't know what to do about it anymore.

 

"Johan is so stingy; he wouldn't even let me join as an intern."

 

"He can't be with North either." His main workplace already has enough staff and isn't accepting interns, so North and I have to go to a different branch. "Stop complaining."

 

"Hmph, why can't I complain when I can't be with you?" Tiger pouted. "Never mind the other things. Whether that other person gets to be with North or if there's still a position available, I don't care. The problem is, I CAN'T! BE! WITH! YOU!"

 

"Come on, stop whining."

 

"Hmph! You don't remember me at all. I curse you to remember me the way I remember you!"

 

"Is it really necessary to resort to cursing?" I laughed even louder.

 

In the middle of the night, I woke up groggily because I needed to go to the bathroom. Just as I was about to open my eyes, I froze, quickly pretending to be asleep again when I realised the person in my arms was staring at me, muttering something.

 

“^$&%^%$”

 

What's that? What is Tiger muttering to himself?

 

This time, I tried to listen very carefully.

 

"Love me, be infatuated with me, can't eat, cry because of me..."

 

“…?”

 

"Love me, be infatuated with me, can't eat, cry because of me. Love me, be infatuated with me, can't eat, cry because of me. Love me, be infatuated with me, can't eat, cry because of me..."

 

Huh…?

 

"Hahaha!" I couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Ger, don't play any tricks on Naooo!"

 

"Huh? When did you wake up?" Tiger frowned, looking confused.

 

I sat up in bed, wiping away tears from laughing so much.

 

"Haha! Oh my god, I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. I just woke up, but what are you doing? Are you trying to cast a spell on me?"

 

Tiger also sat up, pouting, his face full of resentment.

 

"What are you laughing at?"

 

"Well... for heaven's sake, Ger! Why bother with spells and charms? Aren't we already in love?"

 

"Because I want you to remember me more!"

 

"Well, I already missed you, didn't I?"

 

"Hmm! But you weren't whining at all!"

 

"Oh come on, since you're whining, it's naturally my job to comfort you."

 

"Then try to appease him."

 

"Soothe, soothe" I chuckled, reaching up to gently stroke his head, "Be good, be good, don't be so whiny anymore."

Tiger pouted and made the same expression he always makes when he's sulking or angry, looking just like a child who's been refused candy.

 

"I'm angry. You have to appease me."

 

"I've tried to appease you countless times because of this."

 

"You mean no more coaxing now, right? Alright, Duen Nao, remember that!"

 

"You're such a spoiled brat... Come here." I pulled him into my arms. Tiger obediently leaned against my chest, and I ran my hand through his soft, smoky-coloured hair. "There's no need for any spells, because I've already fallen hopelessly in love with you, you know?"

 

“…”

I bent down and gently kissed his hair.

 

"I love you so much, my talented friend from Duen Nao."

 

"You... Um, okay, I'm not angry anymore."

 

"Haha, you dishonest fellow."

 

"How honest would one have to be to compare with you?"

 

"So, you're still planning to cast a spell on me in the end, huh?"

 

"Still, yes!" Tiger replied, "I cast a spell on you, but it seems to have backfired."

 

"To the point where you can't eat or drink anything at all?"

 

"Yeah, I've lost weight, I'm so thin."

 

"No," I retorted immediately. "I don't see you getting any thinner at all."

 

"I'm hiding my figure."

 

"I'm hiding my figure too."

 

"Are you a little overweight?"

 

"That's outrageous!" I said, laughing. "Yeah, I'm a bit fat. Let me fart to lose weight. Pfft!"

 

"I was just kidding, you're not fat at all." Tiger nuzzled his face against my stomach, "Just a little bit of belly fat~"

 

"This is so frustrating..." I sighed involuntarily, "It's because I ate too much grilled food, isn't it? You ate the same thing, but how come you still have abs? It's so unfair!"

 

"I have a secret."

 

"What?"

 

"I'll eat all the lean pieces, and I'll give the fatty ones to you."

 

"Oh..." I drawled, giving him a meaningful glance, "So that's it! How kind of you."

I gently pinched his ear because it was irritating. Tiger giggled and then rested his head on my lap.

 

"Hey, Ger, move aside a bit, I need to go to the restroom."

 

"Oh, I just found a comfortable position to lie in, so let me lie here a little longer."

 

No, move aside.

Tiger was stubborn and even rubbed his face harder against my stomach.

 

"No, I want to stay here. Can't you just bear with it for a little while?"

 

"I'll only be gone for a little while."

 

"Okay, fine..." Tiger pouted, looking unhappy, but finally moved off my lap, making way for me to go to the bathroom.

 

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

Today is the day I move into my new apartment with North, and Tiger is moving too. He said he'd help me pack first, then take care of his own things.

 

While eating breakfast, I was scrolling through my phone. When I went on Instagram, I saw a notification that Tiger had posted a photo and tagged me. I opened it without thinking much of it. Actually, his Instagram account had practically become my Instagram account because it was almost entirely filled with photos of me, mostly candid shots. This time it's a photo of me sleeping, with the caption: sleeping beauty. I scrolled down and saw North's comment.

 

North.nchanan:🤮 

 

"Why sleeping beauty?" I asked Tiger.

 

"But you were sleeping."

 

“Aha…” That’s exactly Tiger’s caption when he posts pictures of me. And as usual, North commented with a nauseating emoji. Almost every post has those two familiar emojis—one a vomiting face, the other a disgusted, grimacing face.

 

"You'll be Sleeping Beauty, and I'll be the Beast," Tiger said with a wide grin.

 

"That's a different story, isn't it? Sleeping Beauty is from the movie 'Sleeping Beauty,' and the Beast is from 'Beauty and the Beast.'"

 

"It's all the same~ Everything beautiful belongs to you."

Just then, North walked in.

 

"Hello, Sleeping Beauty~"

 

"Hello, you dog."

 

"Huh? Why are we so different?"

 

"You're Johan's dog, and I'm Sleeping Beauty. We're on different levels, so sorry."

 

"Oh my god, throwing up in the comments wasn't enough, now I want to throw up in real life too," North said dejectedly. Once the staff had finished bringing everything up, we all split up to rearrange things.

 

"Duen Nao, where do you want to put your computer desk?"

I frowned at North, who was standing outside the bathroom door looking extremely worried.

 

"What was that?" I gasped, "I just finished showering, and suddenly you were banging on the door so loudly it startled me."

 

"I just suddenly heard a scream!"

 

"I didn't yell, did I?"

 

"Yes! You suddenly screamed 'AAAAAA' so loudly that I thought you'd slipped and fallen or there were cockroaches in the bathroom!"

It was only then that I realised…

 

"Uh..." I hesitated, "...That's the chorus of the song they're singing."

 

North blinked: "Sing?"

 

"Yeah, I was singing along to the music, and the chorus of this song has a part where you shout like that."

“…”

 

“…”

 

"I thought you were in danger."

 

"…Sorry."

 

North stared at me, then suddenly raised his hand—

BANG!

 

"Ouch! Why did you hit me?" I clutched my forehead.

 

"That'll teach you a lesson! Next time you sing, sing more quietly, you annoying nuisance!"

 

I gave a wry smile: "Okay, I know..."

 

North mumbled something and then left. I closed the bathroom door, looked in the mirror, and burst out laughing.

 

It's really… Living with North means there's never a peaceful day.

 

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

"Huh?" I frowned, my face full of confusion.

 

"Huh?" North looked bewildered as well.

 

"What?" I emphasised, still not understanding what was happening.

 

"I heard someone shouting for help."

 

"...I'm singing."

 

“…”

 

Silence enveloped them both for nearly half a minute before North broke it with a hearty laugh.

 

"Ha ha ha! Damn! I was so scared! It sounded like someone was about to die!"

 

"You're crazy! You're absolutely insane!" I laughed along with him.

 

"Oh my gosh, I was so worried! I thought you needed help. I almost broke down the door or called the building manager to open it! 'My friend is calling for help! Can anyone help?"

 

"You're completely insane."

 

"So how am I supposed to know? Which part are you singing, and which part are you actually crying for help?"

 

"It's not that similar, is it?" I argued. "You're exaggerating! I'm going to take a shower."

 

"What if you slip in the bathroom and I think you hit a high note?"

 

"I'll call you by your first name, okay? If I need help, I'll call North, alright?"

 

"Okay, okay."

 

"Yeah."

 

I was about to turn and leave when North stopped me.

 

"What if you sing a song with the word 'North' in it? How am I supposed to know then?"

 

"Oh, my God! Just let me die in the bathroom already!"

 

"No, no! This is serious!" North's voice rang out from the computer desk.

 

I had finished changing and walked closer to find him chatting with his friends on Discord, his voice full of excitement.

 

"Stop laughing! It's not funny! What if my friend actually slipped and fell in the bathroom? I wouldn't know anything!"

 

"Are you guys badmouthing me?" I muttered, then opened Discord, and the first thing I heard was bursts of laughter.

 

"What are you laughing at, you damn fools?"

 

(Ha ha ha! Damn, I knew you sang badly, but I didn't expect it to be so bad that North thought it was a cry for help!) Mick's voice rang out, followed by other bursts of laughter.

 

"North is a true comedy master."

 

“No, no! I’m serious!” North retorted, “It sounds funny, but imagine if Nao actually slipped and fell, and I thought he was just hitting a high pitch? That would be incredibly dangerous!”

 

(Well, it's simple. Nao just shouldn't sing in the shower anymore.) Ikkyu suggested, (Or ​​at least sing more quietly.)

"I can't do that, Kyu." I cleared my throat and said seriously, "Singing is in my family's blood! Forbidden to sing? No way!" I even shook my head vigorously for added effect.

 

"Then let's try a different approach," North suggested. "Install an alarm button in the bathroom, like the kind old folks use, so you can press it if anything happens. Nao is just too clumsy anyway."

 

"I'm not that clumsy," I retorted immediately.

 

"You're incredibly clumsy, and so am I. Damn, why are we even living together?"

 

(Yeah, North and Nao, a disastrous duo. If they're not unlucky because of external factors, they're always harming each other until they're bruised and battered.) Sket chimed in.

 

(I'm afraid of the scenario where Nao slips in the bathroom and calls for North, and North also falls and hits his head outside and calls for Nao.) Ikkyu continued, (Like when Nao slipped down the stairs, North reached out to pull him, but tripped himself, and they both tumbled down.)

 

"That's right," North nodded.

(Luckily, Nao isn't forgetful.)

 

"Is that right, Kyu?"

(But stupid.)

 

"Oh, dear."

North burst out laughing.

 

(You're stupid too, North.)

"Huh???" North stopped laughing immediately.

 

(In short…) Tiger, who had been silent until now, spoke up, (The alarm button isn't a bad idea. If Nao slips and North doesn't hear anything, at least there's something to sound the alarm.)

 

"Yeah, that's fine," I replied without much thought, "As long as Ger feels reassured."

(Alright.)

 

"But I feel so pathetic," I sighed, my voice trailing off, "Really pathetic... So clumsy that my boyfriend had to install an alarm in the bathroom."

 

"Come on," North patted my shoulder reassuringly, "I might even press the button before you do. It's fine to be in the room, what do you have to lose?"

 

"Yeah," I replied, then turned to Tiger and said, "But it's been a long time since Nao slipped and fell in the bathroom."

(How could I fall when we're bathing together?)

 

(Wow!!!) The entire Discord server erupted in cheers, including the person next to me. Annoyed, I kicked their chair.

(Okay, okay, let's drop this topic! Let's get into the game quickly, guys!)

 

We played games until we were sleepy, then went to bed. It felt a little strange sleeping with North instead of Tiger. I glanced at its small back as it lay on its side, its back to me. North was asleep and slept easily, unlike me, who kept tossing and turning. Finally, I got up and went out onto the balcony to get some fresh air.

 

I decided to text Tiger that I couldn't sleep. Before I could even lock my screen, he video called me.

 

(Hey… I can’t sleep either.) Tiger lay in bed with only the dim night light on. (Can I come over to your place?)

 

"Are you crazy? It's two in the morning already, and I have to go to work early tomorrow."

 

(You're about to start your internship. Good luck!)

 

"Ger, you should try your best too, you're so good."

 

(You're good too. It's okay, if anyone bullies you, just tell me.)

 

"What can you do?"

 

(Puncture the tyres, cut the brake lines.)

 

"Ha ha ha! That sounds so much like the mafia!!! I thought you were going to threaten to kill me."

 

(No, I'm afraid you're afraid of me.)

"Ger isn't scary at all."

 

(Yes, I'm not scary.) Tiger smiled brightly, looking absolutely adorable. (I'll come over to your place right after work tomorrow.)

"Tomorrow always?"

 

(Always tomorrow.)

"I thought you were coming on Friday or Saturday. You're coming tomorrow, and then you have to rush back to work?"

 

(I'll wake up early. Around five in the morning.)

"It's very hard work."

 

(Not seeing you is the hardest thing.)

"You're so smooth-talking." I laughed, "Can you stop flirting already? We're in love anyway."

 

(That's normal. Oh, there's North.)

I also saw North in the frame, so I turned to look. He was standing lazily behind me, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

 

"Why don't you go to sleep?" I asked.

 

"I woke up to go to the bathroom and saw you on the balcony, so I came out to see what you were doing."

 

"Oh, just talking to Ger."

 

"I know," North leaned closer, peering at the screen, "You can't sleep when you're apart, can you?"

 

(Yeah. And you?)

"Me?"

 

(I thought you were so obsessed with Jo that you couldn't sleep without his picture.)

"Oh... Yeah, I just called before bed," North replied. "You guys just called Discord before bed, too, right?"

 

(That's a general way of referring to the whole group, and it also includes playing games.)

 

"Ah, I see." North nodded, then went back into the room.

 

I continued talking to Tiger for a little while longer before saying goodbye because I was starting to get sleepy. I thought I'd find North asleep when I turned back, but no—he was sitting on the bed playing the guitar.

 

"Want to sing?"

 

"You're asking me to sing?"

 

"YES."

 

"Why are you suddenly picking up a guitar to play at this hour?"

 

"I don't know, I just suddenly wanted to hang out because our room is soundproof, so it's very comfortable. Besides, the moon is beautiful tonight. Let's open the curtains and let the moonlight in; it'll have an amazing vibe."

 

"The problem is they're making me sing."

 

"Don't stress too much," North said. "It's okay. I'm happy singing, and the suffering is for the listeners... Wait, I'm the listener, aren't I?"

I laughed and sat down opposite North.

 

"What song should we sing?"

 

"Which song do you want to sing?"

 

"Any song will do."

 

"You can sing every song in the world?"

 

"Yeah, any song will do."

 

"Okay, this one," North started playing guitar. I listened for a while, "Hey, why don't you sing?"

 

"I don't know this song."

 

"Then they said any song would do."

 

"I just said it randomly! Let's choose another song," I replied. After choosing a song, we started playing and singing. But before we were halfway through, North had to stop because he couldn't stop laughing. I found it funny to see him laughing too, "What are you laughing at?"

 

"Oh my god, I can't stand it! What kind of ghostly howling is that in the middle of the night? You know, singing well is a talent, but singing terribly off-key is also a talent!"

 

"Ha ha ha! I guess God has given me a bit too many talents like this."

 

So the two of us sat there singing and playing until almost dawn before finally going to sleep. When I woke up, I had a slight headache from lack of sleep. Yawning, I went to the kitchen because I heard a noise. Just as I suspected, North was standing there cooking.

 

"My head hurts so much…" I mumbled, then asked, "What did you eat for breakfast this morning?"

North did not reply.

 

“North?” I called, “Hey, North?”

 

It remained silent. Even after cooking, setting the food on the table, and eating breakfast together, it didn't say a word. The same was true while driving to work; it didn't open its mouth at all.

 

"North, what's wrong with you? Are you angry at me because I sing badly?"

“…”

 

"Hey, you said you were fine yesterday, didn't you? Why are you angry now? Besides, you were the one who invited me to sing, weren't you?"

“…”

 

“North, what are you angry at me about?” I asked, starting to get annoyed. We’d been friends for years and had never had a serious argument or fight before, and this was the first time. “North, just tell me what’s wrong. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologize. If you stay silent like this, how am I supposed to understand?”

“…”

 

"When other people have problems, you always tell them to talk to each other. But you stay silent with me?" I continued.

 

“North, is this really that serious? So serious that you won’t even talk to me? Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen you genuinely angry since we’ve known each other. Did I do something wrong?” I frowned, trying to remember. Everything was fine last night before bed, wasn’t it? What happened?

 

Suddenly, North spoke up, his voice serious:

"Nao."

 

"What?"

 

"I don't want to be friends with you anymore."

 

"Huh? Why is that?"

 

"Do you remember what happened last night?"

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

"You probably don't remember because you were asleep at the time."

 

I remained silent, deep in thought, but I couldn't come up with anything.

"Uh... I was asleep, how would I know? What did I do to you?"

 

“…”

"North, answer me."

 

"You sleepwalked and kneed me in the groin! It hurt so much it lasted until morning, you dog! What the hell was Tiger talking about when you were sleeping, saying you were as cute as a good little cat, and all that 'sleeping beauty' stuff? What kind of 'sleeping beauty' is it when you kneed me?! And where did you get the strength from when you were asleep? And that's not all, after you kneed me, you sleepwalked and laughed in my face! Damn it, that's too much! What kind of friend would do that?! You know how important that place is to a man! How could you do that to me?!"

 

"Huh?"

 

"How dare you say 'huh' again!?" North yelled, his eyes still fixed straight ahead as he drove, "I'm so disappointed in you, utterly disappointed! That's it, we're done! I can't trust someone who's ever kneed me in the groin!"

 

"North," I called out, frowning.

 

"What!? Don't think an apology will make me stop being angry! I'm the type to hold a grudge for a long time!"

 

"North."

 

"Speak up!"

 

"I don't... I've never sleepwalked."

 

"That's even worse!" North drawled, "So I've just punched myself in the groin, haven't I!?"

 

"Yeah, maybe." I pointed.

 

"You son of a bitch! Not only did you do something wrong, but now you're denying it, too! That innocent face of yours makes me want to punch you without missing a beat!" North yelled.

 

“Actually… I used to sleepwalk a bit when I was sleeping with Nuea. But for the past three years, sleeping with Tiger, he says, I don’t sleepwalk anymore. If you don’t believe me, ask him.” I called Tiger. A moment later, he answered, and I put the call on speakerphone so North could listen too.

 

"Ger, do I sleepwalk?"

(No way, you're adorable when you're sleeping.)

 

"Did you hear me, North?" I looked up at North. He let out a long sigh before shouting even louder.

 

"You're asking Tiger?! Even if you stabbed someone, he'd still say they were wrong for walking right into your knife! Can't you find a more impartial witness?! If you ask Tiger, I'll definitely be wrong!"

 

"Uh, uh." I hung up. "So who should I ask?"

 

"Ask Nuea! I want Nuea to be a witness!"

 

"That should be fine, it'll probably be around eight o'clock in the evening over there," I called Nuea, and as soon as Nuea answered, he told me the whole story.

(Hmm… From what I hear, Nao probably actually did it.)

 

"See!?"

 

"Really? But Ger said you never sleepwalk?" I asked again.

(Well, Tiger loves Nao so much… So…)

 

"Stupid, clueless, confused, right Nuea!?" North interjected.

 

(Nao, do you remember when you sleepwalked and punched me? It's the same thing. Sometimes I dream and unconsciously act on those dreams in reality, so maybe I really did that yesterday.)

 

"Ah... Um, I understand."

(Um, apologise to North. You two should make up.)

 

"Okay, I'll hang up now, Nuea."

(Hmm.)

 

After hanging up, I turned to North with a remorseful expression.

"North, I'm sorry. I was sleepwalking, so I didn't mean to."

 

"I'm still angry."

 

"So what should I do?"

 

"Let me knee you again."

 

"You can punch me in the face, just don't touch there."

 

"If we do that, Tiger will just cause a huge fuss, and that'll be a real mess. That guy never listens to anyone, so mentioning you will turn him from a brainless person into a brainless one."

 

"So what should I do?"

 

"Buy me four games on Steam."

 

"Good heavens, that's quite heavy-handed."

 

"It's strong."

 

"Okay, are you still angry?" I agreed. To be honest, I understood that his kneeing me in the groin was a nightmare. If it were me, I'd be furious too. I don't even need to imagine it; just seeing North writhing in pain from night till morning is enough to understand how much it hurts.

 

"Okay, I'll continue being your friend. Remember to be grateful to me, Sleeping Beauty."

 

"Yes, yes."